Bowling game



J. H. POWELL BOWLING GAME Feb. 23, 1954 Filed Dec. 14, 1950 INVENTOR.Jkflms E Pall all 14 TTU Y Patented Feb. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENTOFF ICE. 21670304 James H; Powell, Watertowm. Mass; Application December14, f95ll, SeriafNo; 200,707

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a. game of ten pins wherein a captive ball isemployed that'is constrained to describe an orbital. flight and swingin. an outward movement at one side of and by the" pins and in a returnmovement in a path intended tostrike the pins, considerable skill beingrequired'toinitiate the direction and veloeity' of flight ofthe ball soas to cause the ball in its return flight to strike an intended pin.

One of the objects of the present invention is theprovision of averticalpostlocated at. one side orthe-pin" supporthaving at'its upperend a swivel to which the upper end of the ball supporting cord isattached so that the ball can describe an orbital path about the postthe dimensions of which need be restrained only by the length of thecord.

Two sockets are provided one on each side of the pin support so that thevertical post may be mounted in either socket. Thus the post may bemounted in the socket on the right side of the pin support so that theball is readily accessible to right hand players or it may be mounted inthe socket on the left side for the convenience of left hand players.

A further object of the invention is a game of the type above set forthwherein the swivel that connects the ball cord with the top part of thepost has a connection with the cord considerably to one side of the postfor the purpose of increasing the length of the ball orbit as the balland the swivel swing around the post.

A further object of the invention is a game of the type describedwherein the parts are supported by a suitable base which is providedwith clips or other holding means for the pins and the ball.

Another object is ten pin game.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the game.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the supporting table showing the parts heldwithin the retaining clips.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail through the upper end of the ballsupporting post and illustrating the construction of the swivel.

The game includes a table comprising a flat bottom wall In andupstanding side walls 12 forming a bank enclosing the playing fiield.

A triangular pin supporting platform I8 is disposed on the table In andpreferably is elevated by short legs or blocks 20 somewhat above thetable although not above the top of the side walls. A single triangularsupporting block slightly smaller than the pin supporting platform maybe advantageously used for this purgenerally to improve upon a diameteras by the inserted 2:, pose. The pin support spots to indicate thepositions of the telr pins 21;, the pins being set up as is usual in theregular bowling alley.

Supporting sockets 2B and its are secured to the table near each of theopposite side edges F2- thereof and are spaced a substantial distancefrom the pinsupporting platform i'n li'ne witli the back: now oi DihS'i-Sa'ziii sockets $6 andi We are provided: aliole c8; see' especiallyFig:- 2 iii am upstanding: tubular. bani supporting post 30isinenrenably; insertedi. Thepestrman be mounted: in. socket 16 91133the lefll side GB the 1518! support It as shown in Fig. 1 and thus makethe ball conveniently available for use by a left available for a righthanded player.

A swivel supporting plug 34 is fixed in the upper end of the post 30 andhas a passage 36 therein coaxial with the'axis of the post andterminated in a lower conical seat 38. The plug has a peripherallyoutstanding head 40 that overlies and is seated upon the end of thetubular post 30. The upper end of the passage 36 is reduced in bushing42. A swivel pin 44 has a vertical shank which is located loosely in thebushing 42 and has a conical lower end 48 that is rotatably journalledin the conical seat 38. The pin thus can swivel freely about the post.The pin is provided with an ofiset substantially horizontal extension 50of considerable length which is provided with a hole 52 at the outer endto which the upper end of a flexible cord 54 is attached. The lower endof the cord is tied to an eye 56 screw-threaded or otherwise fixed in aball 58.

The inactive position of the ball, with the cord 54 vertical issubstantially at one side of the pin set-up and against the lower end ofthe post. The length of the cord is such that the ball can swing overany portion of the pin supporting plate l8 without striking the plate,although preferably the ball swings closely over the plate.

In playing the game the ball is raised into some elevated position, asillustrated in Fig. 1, behind the back of the pin set-up and is given animpetus toward the left in such direction as to carry the ball in anorbital path 62 forwardly on one side of the post and then backwardly onthe other side of the post to strike the pins. Considerable skill isrequired in judging the initial direction to impel the ball and theamount of force to be applied to cause the ball, in its return stroke topass over the pin supporting table to knock down the desired pin orpins.

By having the post 30 within the ball orbit the dimensions of the orbitare not restricted by the post and hence the structural dimensions ofthe game are kept down.

The relatively long over-hanging length of the arm 50 of the swivel 44also has the effect of an increased length of ball supporting cord inthat it lengthens the orbit of the ball.

In the inactive position of the ball, the ball hangs clear of the pinsupporting plate so that the pins can be set up thereon without dangerof knocking over a pin when the ball is grasped for a second play.

In the knock down or disassembled position of the device the post isremoved and the ball 58 is retained in a corner clip 69. The pins 24 arelocated in spaced line on the table at one end thereof with their endsagainst one end wall or the table and are retained releasably inposition by a pin holder 10 comprising, for instance, a resilient wirestrip having a plurality of bends within which the pins are located. Thepost is usually laid within the table cornerwise. The device as thusarranged can be packed for shipment, or displayed.

I claim: a

In a bowling game, a table, a triangular ten pin support elevated abovethe table, a pair of sockets disposed one at each side of the pinsupport and spaced therefrom and close thereto and approximately in linewith the rear row of pins, an upright post insertablein eitherone of the4 sockets at will, the post having a short laterally extended arm havinga swivel connection with the upper part of the post capable of turningfreely completely around the post, a ball connected to the free end ofsaid arm by a flexible cord so that the ball hangs when at rest in closeproximity to the base of said post, said table having a circumscribingupstanding rim that encloses the pin support and the base of the post,the rim being spaced away from the pin support to provide lodgment forthe pins knocked off the pin support, the post being the sole projectionabove said rim other than the pins thereby permitting the unobstructedswinging of the ball and the arm around the post.

JAMES H. POWELL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 735,132 McCutohen Aug. 4, 1903 848,371 Huben Mar. 26, 1907979,598 Thimm Dec. 27, 1910 1,063,233 Wilhelm June 3, 1913 1,371,831Workman Mar. 15, 1921 2,160,451 Athey May 30, 1939 2,319,917 Bruneau May25, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 648,042 Germany July20,1937

